Letter to the Editor
Anti-Native comments
Published Sunday, September 7, 2008
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To the editor:
Every single damn time there’s an article, editorial or letter to the editor with the word “Native” or concerning Natives in the News-Miner, a flood of hateful, bitter, demeaning, racist, insulting, upsetting and oppressive comments show up from mainly non-Native bloggers. I guarantee 100 percent that there’s going to be some for this one.
Go on the Web and look when this is published. It’ll clearly show the sheer animosity, stigmatization, prejudice and racism that is prevalent in Fairbanks. When I bring a friend up from the states, I’m so ashamed and embarrassed about the stigmatization I have to fight just to get a cup of coffee.
I had no idea the racial tension was this bad in Fairbanks. The pressure is high, and like the natural law of power-waves, if it reaches a boiling point there’s going to be a L.A. riot-type detonation someday.
It almost happened when the Hartman case occurred. The elephant in the room. I don’t know who is right or wrong, I’ve never studied the case thoroughly. A history of that will float around Fairbanks for years to come, unless we start bridge-building instead of continuing this race war.
How can you raise your children to shun or avoid Natives? It’s inhumane. How can you do that? How can you raise your children in such an atmosphere? We have to start getting along! We Athabascans only want to live our lives, do our own thing, raise our kids and go hunting every now and than. What’s so troubling about that? Teachers, preachers, assembly-members and civic leaders are the ones in a position to do something about this fire that’s burning people. The fire of racism. Schoolteachers are the key. They can do something about it, and if you have apprehensiveness toward dark-skinned people taught to you by your paranoid anglo parents, then shed it because future generations are counting on you.
Hartman and the Native families are counting on you. I’m counting on you, and my future “children” are counting on you. Teach kids about love, truth, justice and showing kindness toward their fellow men. It’s in your hands.
Community Discussion
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While I agree that there is lots of racism going around the solution does not start with the teachers in the schools. It starts at home with the parents. Love, truth, justice and kindness is something that is a learned characteristic and should start being taught to children at birth. Yes teachers need to have a clear mind and not show predjuice whether they are themselves to help rolemodel the children.
I agree there are ignorant people, these people come in all sizes and colors and hate on others for being different. Its not like the whole of Fairbanks is out to get the native population, or for that mater the Fairbanks women or military ect. Letters like this continue to show the ignorance and place the blame elsewhere. This time it is toward parents next time what it will be the government or the out of towners. This is a argument that is over done and all to often being used a crutch to keep down the same path. You want to make a difference in Fairbanks, don't write a letter to spur more unkindness, be proactive and in your everyday actions and respect will be earned no matter what your skin color, size, sex, or age.
I am native. Growing up I was ashamed of it because kids in school made fun of me. As an adult I have nothing but pride in my heritage. I have been fortunate in my adult life to not be discriminated against. I am not a college graduate, but I did finish high school. I have previously worked in professional positions, before becoming a stay at home mother. I never had difficulty obtaining employment or felt that co-workers thought less of me.
In one job, I did have an irate customer that would call multiple times of day to the point of harrassment making unreasonable demands. I was always courteous, however he loudly and angrily accused me of discrimination and racial hate because he was native. I was shocked. I calmly informed him that I too am native, and I in no way hate anyone or help them less due to their race. He hung up on me.
I'm not saying that native's aren't discriminated against, as I have experienced it previously in life. I think that we all have the responsibility to not just assume discrimination in each circumstance of life. If something or someone doesn't go our way or treat us the way we expect we should not assume automatically it's due to race. Maybe some of it is, but I always chalk it up to them having a bad day or just a bad attitude in general. Something to think about.
Mr. Gilbert - I hope it can all be figured out someday and someday soon. To say we're all the same would be silly - as each person is unique, but to say that we are all not worth the same would be ignorant. To be treated as less-than based on something as superficial as skin color...this is something that should not happen. Personal behavior choices are a much better indicator for all of us than our biology and genetics. I sure like to think that there is less racism in the world, but obviously there are many who experience something different.
I don't have a solution, but I'm open to looking for one - for all of our children.
fbkreader
Exactly worded. Kudos.
**
Matt Gilbert, Fairbanks
and others:
"Suggest removal" needs to be used more often.
If you see one of those regardless the language/race/crede/sex/age/faith/ect. don't argue; click "Suggest removal" than click yes. I do on those, also on cussing or fake cussing..
It's the only way to stop it on here. Don't argue.
"Suggest removal" click it
Respect works a long long way to correcting many wrongs.
To be honest I too had my encounter with racism in higher ranks in the Army. But still I gave 100% to soldiers under me even if it meant defending their lives with my own. Caring for a soldiers in combat has nothing to do with race. We are all doing what is right for the American people. Today I am retired and came home to live peacefully in my own back yard and still I have to deal with this plaque of evil human practices. My late Indian father who also served 35 years in the Army once told me there will be people who has evil thoughts against your skin but never forget that millions of good people died defending your freedom during WWII.
"I had no idea the racial tension was this bad in Fairbanks"
Anything like being a white guy without "proper escort" in any number of villages?
fbksmom
I think that we all have the responsibility to not just assume discrimination in each circumstance of life. If something or someone doesn't go our way or treat us the way we expect we should not assume automatically it's due to race. Maybe some of it is, but I always chalk it up to them having a bad day or just a bad attitude in general. Something to think about.
True words. Kudos.
I too am a proud Koyukon Alaskan Native. I know what my native name is, my children have native names and we are proud to come from our culture. NO one can take this away from us. If people discriminate or down grade us I believe that they are just showing how ignorant they are. We come from thousands of years of history and I believe in raising my children with our values and beliefs and no one will be able to take that away from them. They may be discouraged or ashamed of this as a teenager, but I will be there supporting them and assuring their well instilled confidence. I know that there are people here that are prejudice and have encountered many bad situations because of that but I try to understand. Not to hate back but to take that hate they feel for me, and turn that around to either educate others or to let others see this misunderstanding.
I know that sometimes people discriminate against natives but this does not mean that native people should do the same thing against the white population. If you feel wronged then try to do the opposite and do the right thing towards someone of that same race. We are a strong, hardworking, understanding, well populated community and nothing should stop us from helping others to see more clearly. My children are mostly native and will be looked at as native children but they also have a white background that they do know about. They know what they come from (all the way across the country) and have bonds with that side of their family. I am proud to say they will know no difference.
I truly don't believe that the average Native person in Fairbanks is treated any differently than anyone else. It's people's attitudes that are against Natives. We non-Natives don't think twice when we talk to or do business with a Native, but there is always THAT stereotype. My daughters had many Native friends in school and most students made fun of and belittled drunken Natives....I mean chronic inebriants. Look around and see what I mean, most of the people you see staggering around town are....guess what. Spend some time observing the FMH emergency room and surrounding area and see what I mean.
Most Native people are fine up-standing people but we need to do something to get the chronic drunks treated permanently-not just a place to 'sleep it off' and then send them back on the streets until tomorrow. There are people of other races that fit it this catagory too, but not in as great a percentage. I'm not bashing Natives, just being truthful.
Gildy, I feel your pain. But you have created these chronic inebriants (CI) for your own city profits. We here in the villages are dealing with your CI for a long time. Can we change our ways?
Why don't little JoeBtfsplk-If he doe'nt take his name in vine to assimlilate his theory to the lower class. As history dictacts Columbus only found the Haiti islands not the US. I rest my case.
Pipe dreams!I think a majority of people will always hate other people for a million reason's and race is just another excuse.What's the end goal anyway?I don't get it.
Gildy.. there maybe be more Native chronic inebriates, but there are more non Native drunk drivers... not to say there are not a fair share of white chronic inebriates in this town and visa versa. I'll take a chronic inebriate over a drunk driver any day!!
I discriminate against ignorance, not skin color... and I agree with fbksreader... this letter only provides fuel for the ignorant posters of this site to display their hateful voices, because this author has assumed non Native folks are to blame for the discrimination he receives... and yah know what they say about assumptions!
is not... I need some coffee! Good Morning Fairbanks!! Rise and shine it's time for another day of complaining!!
It has accured for an appropriate time, we all know it's about time grandfather rights on historic native soil is realized. We were here first and you did not therefore teach your kids to respect the first people of this land.
The author sounds to be a raciest himself if you put it in the context he has. People have opinions and if they are negative then so be it. The author, Matt Gilbert is suggesting that one's opinion should be suppressed if it happen to be "Native" orientated allowing only positive opinion to prevail.
We all come from thousands of years of history; however, it is only the Native that gets multiple benefits, both state and federal, simply because they are native. That is not reasonable, but it is a fact and it is the root of the problem.
The Native community needs to assimilate into the mainstream and become working and productive contributors of society instead of consumers.
For the most part, the villages are relying on the past while enjoying modern conveniences of today and they are not paying a fair or reasonable share. For the most part they pay nothing or they pay with taxpayer funds. The Native community sees this as an entitlement just because they are Native.
Think about it ... we all have a similar claim of ancestry someplace but the “Natives” have evolved beyond just a claim and history. Maintaining a culture is one thing but using that as an excuse for a lifestyle is another.
You simply can't have it both ways. If the Native community chooses to continue on a path of entitlement then they will remain static. Arizona comes to mind.
Sorry, but that is the way I see it and I would like to see it change.
Wisechief ... doing your job in the military is what is expected. Actually, you don't sound much more "Native" than me in a practical sense. You obviously moved beyond that which made it invisible to the majority.
Wisechief, if you want respect, you have to give respect... It is time to get over the whole 'I was here first theory'... and look at coexistence... ‘cause old whitey is not leaving any time soon. The majority of us are here because we love Alaska. It is our home... regardless if we have been here for several months or generations... white, black, native and everything in-between. Some non Native families we working on 4th,5th and 6th generation Alaskans... just because we are not Native... does not mean we do not love Alaska, the culture ,and our way of life the same as a native family that has been here for thousands of years... And as soon as more people are able to see past the dividing colors of our state and view us unified as ALASKANS... we all will be able to celebrate the uniqueness of our lifestyle here in the frozen north and stop this ridiculous debate over who has been here longer! Way to fuel the fire Wisechief! Way to fuel the fire!
Who cares. I sure don't. I'm native and I don't care how the white people look at me or what they do to me. I just mind my own business and work and stay away from downtown.
So Mr. Gilbert get on with your life because this will always go on. And please DO NOT write another stupid letter like this again. It's EMBARASSING.
Wow - you can't even get a cup of coffee...please publish the name of the business that has hampered you from getting one....
I was raised in a town that was 90% black...and being the 'whitey' that I am - I was teased, harassed and beaten up - several times with words to the effect of 'Lets kick the S@#$ out of the white kid'
Do I harbor resentments - nope.... The only people I resent are the ones that whine and complain and live in the ghetto of their own minds - a la Wisechief....
A black man is running for President...a white women, for vice-president...but I guess it is easier to cry racism then pull yourselves up like i did.
How many comments have we read about the racism of the white people that have taken all the Native lands and have given nothing in return...how many comments telling whitey to leave the state?
Maybe a letter or two with appreciation for all the advancements brought by these evil pioneers would be nice...I appreciate them AND flush toilets, snowmachines, firearms, capitalism, etc etc etc
Next, an editorial addressing the reverse racism I and others experience on these blogs would be nice...
Get over yourselves and stop using skin color as an excuse for mediocrity - it doesn't cut it anymore
James, I am a full blooded Athabascan lady. I work, I pay taxes,I pay for medical insurace, I pay my own bills, I provide food for my family, I buy all our clothing and also pay for all the little extras that I need.
I DO THIS ALL WITH THE MONEY I WORK FOR, NOT FROM SOME GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE YOU SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT EVERY SINGLE NATIVE PERSON LIVES OFF OF.
So there, that's one less Native you can discriminate against.
Most of the prejudice comes from interaction with only a choice few of your "people". The same is true for any race.
My husband likes to hunt, but everytime he goes down river (where he has hunted for more than 20 years) he is harassed by Natives. He always comes back with a good story for me. Most people would be a little intimidated and angry at your race for being treated rudely for no reason - only because he is white.
My husband is not like most people though. He knows that it is not all of the Natives that are this way - because he has Athabascan friends down there too.
Unfortunatly, not everyone has a large enough mind to grasp the fact that there are good people in every race.
James-- You're so full of crap your eyes must be brown. However, you did hit on one point that makes sense as to why there is so much hate, especially in the Fairbanks region. I read the comments on a lot of the FDNM editorials, most times I try not to comment myself since I am concidered an Outsider. In your comment you said it is only the Natives that receive multiple benefits, both state and federal, simply because they are Native and that is not reasonable but it is a fact and it is the root of the problem.-- The real problem, from an outsider's point of view, is that some of the white folks are jealous because they don't receive as much as the Natives. You go on to speak of entitlemennt. Where's the justice? You receive Alaska dividend funds, that you don't work for, yet you think you're entitled to them. You can't have it both ways, your own words. Life is too short, learn to get along. Good day to all.
Flatlander again takes aim at our entitlement mentality. It's an easy target the self-suficient, independent Alaskan is a rare breed. Sourdoughs are rolling over in their graves over what we've become.
anyone that automaticaly blames all the hate on the white guy is guilty of discrimination themselves.